Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2015 October 27

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October 27

Website down inquiry

For at least the past 72 hours the web address "mail(dot)yahoo(dot)com" is inaccessible. I live on the west coast of the united states. (if that matters) Anyone know what's going on here? you can go to yahoo's homepage but the email service is not working.. 199.19.248.27 (talk) 01:16, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Thy this it works for me. My yahoo mail works and has a different URLRaquel Baranow (talk) 01:23, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Is this article good to post or not?

Hi I have just recently created article. I am worried, I have not yet posted it for review, but I am asking you to review it and tell me if it is suitable to post or not. I will be more than happy for any suggestions. Article is Here: https://en.wiki.x.io/wiki/Draft:Innovative_Youth_Forum — Preceding unsigned comment added by FWd82 (talk • contribs) 12:12, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Sadly I think your article will probably fail the Wikipedia entrance criteria, principally because the organization you describe is not notable enough. Please read Wikipedia:Notability (organizations and companies). The basic problem is that, in order to have an article on Wikipedia, an organization needs to be notable, which means "it has been the subject of significant coverage in secondary sources. Such sources must be reliable, and independent of the subject.." If you can find such coverage, please add it to the article. Otherwise, I am afraid your article would be deleted if posted. --Viennese Waltz 12:36, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

In addition to being about a notable subject (notability being defined by Wikipedia's rules) - you also need independent references for the facts in your article. All of the references you provide are from the website/social-media accounts of the organization itself...that's pretty much useless unless you also have a ton of references from outside the organization. They may say "Were the best XYZ in the world!" - but that doesn't prove that they actually are the best...it only proves that they claim this to be the case. So you definitely need some 3rd party references - newspaper and mainstream magazine articles about the organization, for example. Things they didn't write themselves.

Without these things, your article would be deleted, almost for sure. SteveBaker (talk) 17:26, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Clarification: If found, a published 3rd party that states "IYF were the best XYZ in the world!" might satisfy WP:RS guidelines but an organization's own claim "We're the best XYZ in the world!" does not. Bestfaith (talk) 19:13, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Why do contributors here bother to reply to questions

Clearly it's not the money involved, because as we know writing here makes you financially endowed to the extreme. So what is it the drives people to answer questions. And don't just say because they care, as that's pure balony. Cookies, cakes. Some sort of wiki-peen. Higher chance of noms for admin status. Surely there's an incentive here. That's how human behavior works, we are incentive driven creatures. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.195.27.47 (talk) 16:52, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

This is an interesting question, but this is the wrong place to be asking it. It should be asked on the ref desk talk page. Anyway, to answer your question, for me it's like getting the right answer in a general knowledge quiz. It feels good to be first to the right answer. It also brings you, or ought to bring you, respect from your fellow editors. --Viennese Waltz 16:55, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Agreed on your first couple points. I don't really care about the respect though. Also, for me, I like teaching when someone wants to learn. That's why I could never been a school teacher. Too many that don't care. But if someone is willing to come and ask, they want to know and I'm glad to teach them, if I can. And finally, I don't want to be an admin. So, that's out. Dismas|^(talk) 17:00, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

(EC) Speaking purely for myself, it's definitely not for any kind of "Wikipedia career" advancement or accumulation of kudos (or "egoboo" [from ego boost] as we call it in Science Fiction Fandom), as I steadfastly remain (for the moment, which has so far lasted around 8 years) an IP contributor. Some people (such as myself) simply enjoy spreading knowledge and dispelling ignorance, which is why I was formerly a professional Bookseller and subsequently a professional non-fiction Editor, while those careers lasted. Aspects of my leisure interests show the same tendencies. Possibly there's a name for such a personality type (in which case I expect to learn it here soon!)

I would be reading the Reference Desks anyway, because seeing other people's questions and answers exposes me to interesting things I wouldn't have thought of myself; I sometimes read similar fora on other sites for the same reason. Given that I'm here, why not contribute when I can? I do sometimes make minor Article edits (mostly of a copyediting or proof-correcting nature) and expect to transition into more of this in time. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 185.74.232.130 (talk) 17:07, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

I've made about 19,000 edits to the reference desk (close to 30,000 to Wikipedia as a whole) and have not received a single cookie or a cake - let alone a dollar. I've been nominated for adminship a couple of times - and both times turned it down (it's really a pain in the neck to be an admin...so many whiny people!). So it's not any of the things you guess.

Personally, it's a couple of things:

1. I learn stuff. In order to answer the more intriguing questions, you have to do some research - maybe some math - maybe some logical reasoning. This effectively forces me to learn things that I wouldn't ordinarily bother with. Editing Wikipedia - and ESPECIALLY the ref desk - makes you smarter. Being smarter has allowed me to get better jobs - earn more money, etc, etc - but being smarter is my goal, not some side-effect of some other goal.
2. I fondly believe that I make people happier...well, mostly...and having passed ones' genes onto the next generation (check - done that!) what other purpose do we humans have on this planet? You say that this is "balony" - but it's not.

I did once get a death threat in the mail from a guy who didn't like my edits to an article in which he was mentioned (I removed the mention) - but that wasn't the ref desk, so it doesn't count!

SteveBaker (talk) 17:08, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

I like both teaching and learning. I get to do both here, and sometimes perhaps even make the world a very slightly better place. You might also ask why people donate to charities - the short answer is, they like to. SemanticMantis (talk) 18:05, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

• Per Altruism#Psychology, "Many studies have observed the effects of volunteerism (as a form of altruism) on happiness and health and have consistently found a strong connection between volunteerism and current and future health and well-being.[37][38] In a study of older adults, those who volunteered were significantly higher on life satisfaction and will to live, and significantly lower in depression, anxiety, and somatization.[39] Volunteerism and helping behavior have not only been shown to improve mental health, but physical health and longevity as well.[37][40][41][42]" with a ton of reliable references. So, the answer to your question is that people help out here because helping out makes them feel good and improves their psychological well-being. --Jayron32 18:50, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

I'll grant I haven't been around much lately, but the reasons I'm even tangentially haven't changed. Because it's fun. Because I like helping people find answers. I do similar work professionally. I stand to gain nothing at all but pride of work. Mingmingla (talk) 18:53, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

I'm already an admin, so I don't do it for that. And I certainly don't do it for the thanks, as the questioners rarely come back to say anything, let alone "thank you". Contrary to your cynical view, I do it because I enjoy helping people, it makes a nice change from my other usual editing habits and because I like to encourage people to become Wikipedians, which manifests itself in various ways within my answers. --Dweller (talk) 19:15, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

For me, it's simply because I love helping people. If there's an ulterior motive, it'd be that I love to show off what I know. But I don't expect anything in return (other than praise and gratitude, of course).
I call "citation needed" on your "don't just say because they care, as that's pure balony" jibe. Who says it's baloney? —Steve Summit (talk) 21:56, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

In the odd moments when I de-lurk and answer, it's generally a 50/50 mix of "I'm reading it anyway, so why not" and this MChesterMC (talk) 09:08, 28 October 2015 (UTC)

Don't the rest of you get the small payment for each question answered??? Edison (talk) 17:28, 28 October 2015 (UTC)

Yes. We get goose eggs. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 18:31, 28 October 2015 (UTC)

I've actually been able to retire on the proceeds of my golden wild goose eggs. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 21:02, 28 October 2015 (UTC)

It makes my day when people say things like "Thank you for all your carefully researched replies, which were most helpful", and enquirers do that frequently. 2.123.251.7 (talk) 08:40, 29 October 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.12.116.226 (talk)

You chose gold? After I found out the RD eggs were being provided by weight, I chose rhodium and platinum (but like you, I sell them soon after I earn them). Nil Einne (talk) 17:52, 29 October 2015 (UTC)

Sometimes I respond because someone else has given a completely wrong answer and I can't let that stand. Adam Bishop (talk) 11:16, 29 October 2015 (UTC)

I think all people want to see themselves in a meaningful context. We also want to interact meaningfully with others. This might represent a general reason why people participate here. Some are looking for "good conversation". Bus stop (talk) 15:01, 29 October 2015 (UTC)

I have the same tendency (although often it isn't the answer per se, but a claim or point that was made). Nil Einne (talk) 17:50, 29 October 2015 (UTC)

Being blunt here: "Smart-ass-competition" :) (Do I now get the reward for best answer, please?)--TMCk (talk) 15:22, 29 October 2015 (UTC)

I did it all for the nookie. Yeah, like a chump. I stayed once I realized if I click the Wikilinks I make, I usually find minor errors, which I fix, making the world a slightly better place. It may not be a cookie, but it's good enough for me (yes, it's good enough for me). InedibleHulk (talk) 20:50, 30 October 2015 (UTC)

As a general observation, a lot of the people one encounters here are very smart. That could appeal to some of the rest us. Bus stop (talk) 21:14, 30 October 2015 (UTC)

Tablecloths without creases

I don't use tablecloths on a day-to-day basis, but I like to put a white linen cloth out on certain special occasions. Afterwards I wash it and iron it, taking care not to introduce creases during ironing. But it has to be folded to be put away for the next occasion, and when I get it out again there are always very evident creases where it has been folded. Any suggestions as to how to avoid this? --rossb (talk) 17:06, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

You could try rolling them on long cardboard tubes, if you have access to a source of them (try Tailors, Drapers, Curtain shops and the like). {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 185.74.232.130 (talk) 17:11, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

I agree with the suggestion to roll it up, but you don't need a core to wrap it around. You might want to put a plastic bag around the outside to keep it from getting dirty. If you don't have one plastic bag that fits, you could put one on from each end, or even cut up pieces of plastic bag and tape them into a tube. The suggestion below to iron before you put it on makes sense, too, but better to not create the creases in the first place. Also, you may not have time to iron when preparing for a big family meal.

Then there's another technique: Keep the good tablecloth on the table all the time, but normally keep it covered with a slightly larger cheap plastic tablecloth. This will prevent it from getting stained, and you only need to remove the cheap plastic table cloth for formal occasions. StuRat (talk) 19:39, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

As a computer scientist, I would suggest a lazy ironing pattern - i.e. only iron it when you need it. --Stephan Schulz (talk) 18:13, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

To explain what Stephen is getting at, what he is saying is that you should iron immediately before use. That would avoid the creasing problem. --Jayron32 18:47, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Someone once defined a Bohemian as someone who washes up before the meal. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 185.74.232.130 (talk) 14:39, 28 October 2015 (UTC)

Here's a few sites that discuss linen tablecloth care and storage [1] [2]. In addition to rolling, they also mention hanging the cloth to store it. SemanticMantis (talk) 19:44, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Many thanks for these suggestions! rossb (talk) 18:29, 31 October 2015 (UTC)

History of the Daytona International Speedway

Sir, I was searching for information on the first motorcycle race held at the Daytona Speedway and was directed to the Wikipedia site and it tells of the car races at the speedway starting in 1959, but skipped the first motorcycle race and the second motorcycle race held at the speedway in early Feb.1961.

I entered the first motorcycle race (United States Motorcycle Club)held at the new Speedway in early Feb 1961 and returned to the Speedway and filmed the second motorcycle race (FIM) on the 12th of Feb. 1961. But I see no record of either race.

Howard M Fitzcharles III — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.240.203.4 (talk) 19:55, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

It may be possible that these races were held on the Daytona Beach and Road Course. Daytona International Speedway as you know, did not come into existence until 1959. You may have raced on the old course. The bike races where not transferred to the Speedway until 61 but I can't find the month. So your races so early in the year may have been just before that. Where exactly where you? Google maps may help to bring the memories back and into better focus, because the passage of time can make one's mind foggy and thus you may be searching the wrong archives. P.S. did your bike have overhead cam or was it still side-valve? --Aspro (talk) 23:19, 27 October 2015 (UTC)

Our article on the Daytona 200 includes the change from the beach course to the speedway in 1961 - according to contemporary sources (here, for example), it was held on March 12 of that year. Presumably the OP competed in a different race? Tevildo (talk) 23:28, 27 October 2015 (UTC)